'Confidential 86/14-I. B.39. Petroleum Concessions Limited Bahrain'

IOR/R/15/1/688

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The record is made up of 1 volume (229 folios). It was created in 18 Jan 1936-30 Oct 1936. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

The volume contains correspondence between the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch); the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch, John Baron Howes); the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (John Charles Walton, Maurice Clauson); the Petroleum Department (Frederick Charles Starling); the Shaikh of Bahrain (Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah); the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave); Petroleum Concessions Limited (John Skliros, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, Frank Holmes); and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Hamilton R Ballantyne, Edward Allen Skinner) regarding negotiations for a concession in the unalloted area of Bahrain including territorial waters and islands.

The volume concentrates primarily on negotiations for a concession in the unalloted area of Bahrain following an initial approach from Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL) and the Shaikh of Bahrain’s decision to inform the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) should they wish to compete with PCL for the concession. Offers for the concession area are made by both companies and included in the volume, along with later discussion regarding the possibility of dividing the remaining concession area in two and granting separate concessions, one for the unalloted area on the mainland and the other for the Hawar Islands and other territorial islands. Copies of the draft agreement produced by Petroleum Concessions Limited, and later amendments can be found at folios 5-22, 91-107.

Also discussed is the potential of over-lapping rights should a concession be granted for the unallotted area and suggestions that a concession for that area might contain a clause granting subordinate rights in some areas in order to respect rights granted to BAPCO in their agreement. The rights related to access to fresh water, roads and harbours.

Further discussion surrounds the ‘Bahrain Islands’ focusing particularly on the Hawar group of islands and whether they were owned by Bahrain, as claimed by the Shaikh of Bahrain and could therefore be included in a concession for the unalloted area. The resulting enquiries made by the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. concluded that it appeared Bahrain owned the islands, and that the burden of disproving ownership rested with any other potential claimant.

A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 221-227.

Extent and format
1 volume (229 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 231; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 23-220; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
Type
Archival file

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/R/15/1/688
Former external reference(s)
A Series: 86/14 Confidential Series: B 39

History of this record

Date(s)
18 Jan 1936-30 Oct 1936 (CE, Gregorian)

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'Confidential 86/14-I. B.39. Petroleum Concessions Limited Bahrain', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/688, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000296> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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